Resin removal systems

ABSTRACT

A method, system, apparatus, and/or device for removing resin from material. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include a washer configured to receive water from a water source and air from an air source into an interior cavity of the washer via an inlet, the washer including a first filter located within the interior cavity, where the interior cavity is configured to store a material, the interior cavity is configured to direct a flow of the water and the air in a defined pattern to remove a resin from the material, and the washer comprises an opening covered by the first filter. The first filter may be configured to allow the water, the air, and the resin to exit the opening while restricting the material from exiting the opening.

BACKGROUND

Botanicals are substances obtained or derived from natural materialsand/or organic materials. For example, the natural materials or organicmaterials may be plants or parts of plants. In another example, thenatural materials or organic materials may denote groups of nativesubstances which are obtainable from organic or inorganic material. Forexample, the botanicals may be hydrocarbons (such as terpenes and theoxygenated compounds), cannabidiols (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinols (THC),essential oils, and so forth. Many botanicals have applications in thefood industry, the tobacco industry, the perfume industry, and thepharmaceutical industry. For example, botanicals are widely used asingredients for fragrances, flavoring mixtures, and medicinal remedies.To put the botanicals in a usable form, the botanicals must be extractedfrom the natural materials or the organic materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given below and from the accompanying drawings of variousembodiments of the present embodiment, which is not to be taken to limitthe present embodiment to the specific embodiments but are forexplanation and understanding.

FIG. 1 illustrates a resin removal system to remove resin from amaterial, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A illustrates a top perspective view of a torus washer with anoctagonal shape, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side exposed view of the torus washer and thesecond filter, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top perspective view of a toroidal washer with adonut shape, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3B illustrates a side exposed view of the toroidal washer and thesecond filter, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed resin removal systems will become better understoodthrough review of the following detailed description in conjunction withthe figures. The detailed description and figures provide merelyexamples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled inthe art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied,modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventionsdescribed herein. Many variations are contemplated for differentapplications and design considerations; however, for the sake ofbrevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individuallydescribed in the following detailed description.

Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of resinremoval system examples are provided. Related features in the examplesmay be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For thesake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained ineach example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue thereader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar tothe related feature in an example explained previously. Featuresspecific to a given example will be described in that particularexample. The reader should understand that a given feature need not bethe same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature inany given figure or example.

Botanicals are substances obtained or derived from natural materialsand/or organic materials, such as plants, parts of plants, or nativesubstances which are obtainable from organic or inorganic material. Forexample, the botanicals may be hydrocarbons, cannabidiols (CBD),tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), essential oils, and so forth that may beused in the food industry, the tobacco industry, the perfume industry,and the pharmaceutical industry for fragrances, flavoring mixtures, andmedicinal remedies.

To put the botanicals in a usable form, the botanicals are extractedfrom the natural materials and/or organic materials. Conventionally, toremove the botanicals from the natural material or the organic materialan individual may use an ice water extraction also known as a bubblehash extraction. The ice water extraction may separate cannabinoids andtrichomes from plant material which combined create a cannabis resin byusing ice, water, and a screen to strain out resin glands which areinherently more dense than water. For example, a ice water hash machinemay include a washing machine with a vertical or horizontal drum andplant matter and ice in a screen bag. The screen bag may be placed inthe drum with the ice and water, then tumbled for a defined amount oftime and using a motor to spin the washing machine drum before theliquid is drained through a tube into a bucket which contains bags thatfurther separate particulates and resin.

While the bubble hash extraction may separate the particulates and theresin from the plant material, the the bubble hash extraction may beextremely labor intensive and may be limited in scalability. Forexample, there may be physical limits as to the size that the verticalor horizontal drum of the washing machine may be scaled to due tonatural laws of physics. The physical limits of the size the drum may bescaled to may limit the ability to use the bubble hash extraction formass production. Additionally, the conventional bubble hash extractionmay require a relatively long amount of time to perform and may be timeintensive, where the process may require multiple runs to fully extractresin from the material. Furthermore, the conventional bubble hashextraction may not be automated as it requires manual labor to performthe process. The conventional bubble hash extraction may also use arelatively large amount of water and electricity, making the process noteco-friendly and costly.

Implementations of the disclosure address the above-mentioneddeficiencies and other deficiencies by providing methods, systems,devices, and/or apparatuses to extract botanicals from natural materialsand/or organic materials. The resin removal system may include a watersource, an air source, a washer, a filter, and a processing tank. In oneembodiment, a material may be inserted into the washer. Once thematerial is inserted into the washer, the water may be received from thewater source and air may be received from the air source into thewasher. As the water and the air are received into the washer, the waterand the air may be circulated in the washer in a specific motion toremove the resins from the material as the water and the air arecirculated with the material from the washer to the filter. The filtermay allow the water and the air to pass through to the processing tankwhile collecting the resins in the filter.

The filter with the resins may be disconnected from the washer and theresins may be removed for subsequent use. An advantage of the resinremoval system may be that the resin removal system may be scaled up ordown based on the desired use of the system, such as personal use orbusiness use. Another advantage of the resin removal system may be tominimize the physical forces applied to the material to remove theresin, which may reduce the particularization and damage to thematerial. Another advantage of the resin removal system may be to reducethe time and labor required to extract resin from the material. Anotheradvantage of the resin removal system may be to enable a user toautomate the resin removal process and reduce or eliminate the amount ofphysical labor required to remove the resin from the material.

FIG. 1 illustrates a resin removal system 100 to remove resin from amaterial 124, according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the resinremoval system 100 may include a water source 102 and an air source 104connected to a washer 112. In one embodiment, the water source 102 maybe connected to the washer 112 by a first conduit 106, such as a firstpipe, a first duct, or a first tube. In another embodiment, the airsource 104 may be connected to the washer 112 by a second conduit 108,such as a second pipe, a second duct, or a second tube. As discussedbelow, the first conduit 106 and the second conduit 108 may be connectedto a manifold of the washer 112. As the water and the air are receivedat the washer 112, the water and/or the air may be mixed by the washer112 to generate a water pattern to remove resins from a material 124.The material 124 may be seeds, tubers, vegetables, fruits, cannabis,flowers, and so forth.

In another embodiment, the second conduit 108 may be connected to thefirst conduit 106 via a connector 110. In one example, the connector 110may be a venturi valve that creates a constriction within the firstconduit 106 (such as an hourglass shape) that varies the flowcharacteristics of water traveling through the first conduit 106. As thewater velocity in the throat of the venturi valve increases, theincrease in velocity may create a natural pump or suction that may pullthe air from the air source 104 and combine the air with the water. Inanother embodiment, the connector 110 may be a one-way valve, a globevalve, a gate valve, a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a diaphragm valve,a check valve, and so forth. In another embodiment, the water from thewater source 102 may be pressurized by a first pump so that the watermay be pressurized and directed from the water source 102 (via the firstconduit 106) to the washer 112.

The water source 102 may be a tank or container to store water and/orliquid. In one example, the water source 102 may be a 100-gallon to300-gallon tank to store water and/or other liquids. In another example,the tank or container may store the water and/or other liquids at a coldor near freezing temperature, such as between 33 degrees Fahrenheit to45 degrees Fahrenheit. In another example, the tank or container maystore the water and/or other liquids at a heated temperature, such asbetween 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In anotherexample, the water may include chemicals mixed in with the water. Forexample, to remove certain types of resins from materials, chemicals mayalso be required to remove the resin and those chemicals may be added tothe water at the tank or container. In another example, the chemicalsmay be added in line with conduits for water or air or as a separateconduit connected to the washer 112. In one embodiment, the washer 112may be a metal material, a plastic material, a rubber material, apolyurethane material, a composite material, a foam material, and soforth. For example, the washer 112 may include a metal interior with afiber composite housing to enclose a torus washer or toroidal washer, asdiscussed below. In another example, the interior of the torus washer ortoroidal wash may include an interior with a stiff foam with food-gradecoating and a housing that is a wood material or a plastic material. Thewasher 112 may be a material which can withstand high pressure,relatively hot and/or cold temperatures, and may have interior surfacesthat are food grade surfaces.

In another embodiment, the air from the air source 104 may bepressurized by a second pump so that the air may be pressurized anddirected from the air source 104 (via the second conduit 108) to thewasher 112. In another embodiment, the air from the air source 104 maybe pressurized by a second pump so that the air may be pressurized anddirected from the air source 104 (via the second conduit 108, theconnector 110, and the first conduit 106) to the washer 112.

In another embodiment, the air may be cooled at the air source 104 priorto providing the air to the washer 112. In one example, the air source104 may be air that is taken in or received from an area approximate atube 114. The tube 114 may be a coil that is within a container 116 thatcools the coil to a defined temperature level. In one example, the tube114 may be refrigerated. In another example, at least a portion of thetube 114 may be surround by a cold material, such as ice or a coolinggel. As the air is in taken by the cooled tube 114, the temperature ofthe air may be cooled by the cooled tube 114 to decrease the temperatureof the air below a threshold temperature level. In one embodiment, thethreshold temperature level may be below 32 degrees)(° Fahrenheit (F) or0° Celsius (C). In another embodiment, the threshold temperature levelmay be below 0° F. or −18° C. In another embodiment, the water from thewater source 102 may be cooled to a threshold temperature. For example,the water may be cooled at the water source 102 by a refrigeration unit,a tube, and container similar to the tube 114 and the container 116. Inanother example, the water may be cooled by ice added to the water atthe water source.

In another embodiment, the air from the air source 104 may be heated.For example, to heat the air, the air source 104 may include a forcedair heater that may heat the air at the air source 104 or heat the airprior to the air being stored or sucked in by the air source 104. Inanother example, the air source 104 may include the tube 114 where theair is stored and the tube 114 may be heated by a heating element toincrease the temperature of the air. In another embodiment, the tube 114may be copper because the copper tubing may transmute the cold or hottemperatures of the air. In another embodiment, the cold air or theheated air, when introduced into the washer 112, may aid to quickly andefficiently separate and expose all sides of the material 124 in thechamber to extract the resin from the material 124.

In another embodiment, the first conduit 106 or the second conduit 108may include a check valve 118 and a sprayer 120 that may be used toclean the resin removal system 100. For example, when the check valve118 is partially or fully opened, at least a portion of the water fromthe water source 102 may be diverted from the first conduit 106 or thesecond conduit 108 to the sprayer 120. The sprayer 120 may then spraythe water onto a part or all of the resin removal system 100 such as thewater source 102, the air source 104, the washer 112, a processing tank128, a filter 134, a recycled water tank 140, and so forth. In anotherembodiment, to clean part or all of the resin removal system 100, airmay be run through the resin removal system 100. For example, to cleanplant material in the resin removal system 100, room temp air or heatedair may be run through the resin removal system 100 to dry the resinremoval system 100. Once the resin removal system 100 has been dried,the material 124 that the resin was extracted from may be removed fromthe resin removal system 100. In another example, room temperature orheated air may be run through the resin removal system 100 to screenrocks out of dirt and debris and/or to mix natural ingredients andcompost into soil to produce organic planting soil.

As the washer 112 receives the water and the air, the washer 112 maydirect the water and the air to a material 124 held within the washer112 to remove resins from the material 124. As discussed below, thewater and the air may be directed to form a defined pattern within thewasher 112 to remove the resins from the material 124. The resins mayinclude hydrocarbons (such as terpenes and the oxygenated compounds),cannabidiols (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), essential oils, and soforth.

As discussed below, the water and/or the air may be injected or sprayedinto the washer 112 in a directional flow to create a centrifugal ortoroidal pattern that in turn generates a chaotic movement in the washer112 to wash and clean the material 124 (such as cannabis, seeds, tubers,or other vegetables and fruits) and remove the resin from the material124. When the material 124 is seeds, the resin extracting process mayseparate and clean the seeds and then carry the seeds through the firstfilter 122 to the second filter 126 and separate the seeds via thesub-filters as discussed below.

In one example, the washer 112 may include a housing with a first filter122. In one example, the washer 112 may include an opening in the bottomof the housing that the first filter 122 may be inserted into. To insertthe material 124 into the washer 112, the washer 112 may be detached andremoved from the processing tank 128 and the material 124 may beinserted into an area enclosed by the first filter 122. In oneembodiment, the material 124 is loaded and unloaded in the washer 112 bydisconnecting or removing the washer 112 from the processing tank 128and then removing the first filter 122 from within the washer 112. Inone example, the washer 112 may be approximate to or rest on theprocessing tank 128 such that the washer 112 may be lifted off theprocessing tank 128 to disconnect the washer 112 from the processingtank 128. In another example, the washer 112 may twist lock onto theprocessing tank 128 such that the washer 112 may be rotated clockwise tounlock the washer 112 from the processing tank 128 and rotatedcounterclockwise to lock the washer 112 to the processing tank 128, orvise versa. In another example, the first filter 122 may twist lock intothe opening of the washer 112. As the water and the air are receivedinto the washer 112, the water and the air may be directed into thefirst filter 122 to remove the resins from the material 124.

In one example, the water and the air may be directed by the housing ofthe washer 112 toward the first filter 122 and the material 124 storedwithin the washer 112. The water and the air may then be directed outthe opening in the bottom of the housing of the washer 112, and towardthe processing tank 128. As the water and/or the air are directed to theprocessing tank 128, the force of the water and the air against thematerial 124 as the water and/or the air exit the opening in the washer112 may wash or remove the resins from the material 124 and direct theresins toward the processing tank 128. The processing tank 128 may be aplastic material, a metal material, a rubber material, a polyurethanematerial, and so forth.

In one embodiment, the processing tank 128 may include a second filter126 attached to a top of the processing tank 128. As the water and/orthe air exit the washer 112 and enter the processing tank 128, the waterand the air may pass through the second filter 126. The second filter126 may be porous to allow the water and the air to pass through thesecond filter 126 while the second filter 126 may remove the resins fromthe water and/or the air and trap or hold the resins within the secondfilter 126. In one example, the water and/or the air may be stored in ahousing of the processing tank 128 and the resins from the material 124may be stored within the second filter 126. A user of the resin removalsystem 100 may desire to use the resins removed from the material 124for various purposes. For example, the resin removed from the material124 may be hydrocarbons (such as terpenes and the oxygenated compounds),cannabidiols (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), essential oils, and soforth. To remove the resin from the second filter 126, the user maydetach the washer 112 from above the processing tank 128 and then removethe second filter 126 from the processing tank 128. Once the secondfilter 126 is removed from the processing tank 128, the user may wash,scrape, skim, or otherwise extract the resin from the second filter 126.

In one embodiment, the water stored in the processing tank 128 may bediscarded via an opening at the bottom of the processing tank 128. Forexample, the opening at the bottom of the processing tank 128 may allowthe water to flow onto the ground or the floor. In another example, thebottom of the processing tank 128 may be connected to a drain or asewage connection to get rid of the water.

In another embodiment, the resin removal system 100 may include arecycling system to clean and recycle the water from the processing tank128 so that the water may be reused. When the resin removal system 100uses recycled water, the resin removal system 100 may be a closed systemthat does not require new water to remove the resin from the material124. To recycle the water in the processing tank 128, the opening at thebottom of the processing tank 128 may be connected to a third conduit132. In one embodiment, the third conduit 132 may be connected directlyto the bottom of the processing tank 128. In another embodiment, a checkvalve 130 may be connected to the bottom of the processing tank 128 andthe third conduit 132 may be connected to the check valve 130. The checkvalve 130 may allow a user to control when the water stored in theprocessing tank 128 is released. The third conduit 132 may be connectedto a filter 134. The filter 134 may remove particles or material fromthe water to clean the water for subsequent use. In one example, thewater may be gravity fed to the filter 134, where the processing tank128 may be located at an elevation above the filter 134 to createnatural pressure to force the water through the filter 134. In anotherembodiment, the third conduit 132 may include a pump 133, such as aninline pump, that may suck or pull the water from the processing tank128 and direct the water through the filter 134.

In one embodiment, when the water has passed through the filter 134, thewater may be directed back to the first conduit 106. In anotherembodiment, when the water has passed through the filter 134, the watermay be directed through a fourth conduit 136 to a water tank 140. In oneexample, the water tank 140 may be used to store the recycled water. Inone example, a pump may be connected to the water tank 140 such thatwhen the pump is turned on, the pump may send the water stored in thewater tank 140 through the resin removal system 100 several times beforethe water is to be heated or cooled again.

In another example, the water tank 140 may store fresh water that ispoured into the water tank 140 through an opening in the water tank 140or through another conduit connected to the water tank 140. In anotherembodiment, the fourth conduit 136 may include a valve 138, such as aninline check valve, that may control when the water may flow from thefilter 134, through the fourth conduit 136, to the water tank 140. Afifth conduit 142 may be connected to the water tank 140, such as at thebottom of the water tank 140.

In one embodiment, the fourth conduit 136 may convey the water in thewater tank 140 to the water source 102. In another embodiment, the watertank 140 may be the water source 102, where the fifth conduit 142 isconnected to the first conduit 106 such that the water in the water tank140 may be conveyed to the washer 112 via the fifth conduit 142 and thefirst conduit 106. The connection of the first conduit 106 and the fifthconduit 142 may form the closed loop system of the resin removal system100. In one example, the fifth conduit 142 may include a valve 144, suchas a ball valve or a check valve, to control when and how much water mayflow out of the water tank 140 via the fifth conduit 142. In addition tocontrolling the flow of the water and/or the air in the resin removalsystem 100, the valves discussed herein for the resin removal system 100may allow for replacement and/or cleaning of clogged areas of the resinremoval system 100 without disrupting the entire water supply.

In another example, the fifth conduit 142 may include a pump 146, suchas an inline pump, to suck the water from the water tank 140 and providethe water to the water source 102 or the first conduit 106. In additionto controlling the flow and pressurizing the water and/or the air in theresin removal system 100, the pumps discussed herein for the resinremoval system 100 may allow for automating the resin removal system 100with timers where the water and/or the air may automatically be providedto the resin removal system 100 at defined times of the day and/or fordefined periods of time.

FIG. 2A illustrates a top perspective view of a torus washer 212 with anoctagonal shape, according to an embodiment. As discussed above, theresin removal system 100 in FIG. 1 may include a washer 112 to removeresin from material 124. In one example, the washer 112 in FIG. 1 may bethe torus washer 212 in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, the torus washer 212may receive water and/or air from a source 248.

In one example, the source 248 may be the first conduit 106 and/or thesecond conduit 108. In one embodiment, the torus washer 212 may receivethe water and/or the air from the source 248 via a manifold structure.In one example, the manifold structure may receive the water and/or theair via a single inlet (such as one of 256 a-256 d) connected to thesource 248. In another example, the manifold structure may receive thewater and/or the air via multiple inlets 256 a-256 d. In one example,the inlets 256 a-256 d may be plates or slots that direct low pressureor high-pressure water and/or air at a defined angle and/or direction.In one embodiment, the plates may be relatively stiff and/or rigidmaterial (such as metal or plastic). In another embodiment, the platesmay be a food grade material or a material coated with a food gradecoating. The plates may include holes angled at a 45-degree angle tospray water into the torus washer 212. The angle, size, and/or directionof the slots or holes of the inlets 256 a-256 d may generate the waterand/or the air flow patterns as discussed herein.

To receive the water and/or the air through the multiple inlets 256a-256 d, the manifold structure may include dividing the water and/orthe air into multiple conduits. For example, when the manifold structureincludes 4 inlets 256 a-256 d at the torus washer 212, the manifoldstructure may include a T-junction 250 to divide the water and/or theair from the source 248 so that a first portion of the water and/or theair flows into a first conduit 252 a and a second portion of the waterand/or the air flows into a second conduit 252 b. The first conduit 252a may be connected to a second T-junction 253 a to divide the waterand/or the air in the first conduit 252 a into a first portion thatfollows into a third conduit 254 a and a fourth conduit 254 b. The thirdconduit 254 a may be connected to the first inlet 256 a of the toruswasher 212 and the fourth conduit 254 b may be connected to the secondinlet 256 b of the torus washer 212.

The second conduit 252 b may be connected to a third T-junction 253 b todivide the water and/or the air in the second conduit 252 b into a firstportion that follows into a fifth conduit 254 c and a sixth conduit 254d. The fifth conduit 254 c may be connected to the third inlet 256 c ofthe torus washer 212 and the sixth conduit 254 d may be connected to thefourth inlet 256 d of the torus washer 212. The number of inlets intothe torus washer 212 and/or the manifold structure is not intended to belimiting and may vary. For example, the torus washer 212 may have twoinlets on opposite sides of the torus washer 212 or inlets on each sideof the torus washer 212 based on the desired amount of water and/or aira user may want to use to remove resin from the material, the type ofmaterial from which resin is removed, the size of the torus washer 212,and so forth.

In one embodiment, the torus washer 212 may be enclosed by a housing260. In one embodiment, the housing 260 may include handles to enable auser to more easily pick up the torus washer 212. In another embodiment,the housing 260 may provide a protective cover to protect the toruswasher from damage. The torus washer 212 may include a filter or screen258 at approximately the center of the torus washer 212. For example, atthe center of the interior of the torus washer 212 may include a firstfilter 258 that is a barrel-shaped metal screen which extends 5-8 inchesinto the interior of the torus washer 212 and sits flush with the bottomof the torus washer 212. As discussed above, the filter 258 may besecured to a housing of the torus washer 212 by a fastener or with alocking mechanism, such as a twist and lock mechanism. The filter 258may allow liquids and particles smaller than the screen size to flowdownward using gravity, into the processing tank 128 while keepinglarger pieces inside the chamber for cleaning or disposal. In oneexample, the filter 258 may be a material so that the filter 258 maykeep its shape in the face of the directional liquid and air flows. Inone embodiment, the material may be a semi-rigid material such a metal.

In one embodiment, as the torus washer 212 receives the water and/or theair from the inlets 256 a-256 d, the water and/or the air may circulatearound an interior cavity of the torus washer 212 in a defined pattern,such as a circular pattern, a torus pattern, or a centrifugal pattern.The defined pattern may indicate a directional flow of the water and/orthe air. As the water and/or the air circulates around the cavity in thedefined pattern, the water and/or the air may chaotically or randomlymove the material within the cavity of the torus washer 212. Thecircular or torus pattern of the water and/or the air along with thechaotic or random movement of the material may dislodge or remove theresin from the material.

As the water, the air, and the material circulate about the torus washer212, the water, the air, and the material may be pulled toward anopening at the bottom of the torus washer 212 below the filter 258. Asthe water and/or the air exit through the opening, the resin that hasbeen removed from the material may exit with the water and/or the air asthe filter 258 restricts the material from exiting through the opening.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side exposed view of the torus washer 212 and thesecond filter 126, according to an embodiment. Some of the features inFIG. 2B are the same or similar to some of the features in FIGS. 1 and2A as noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly describedotherwise. As discussed above, the resin removal system 100 in FIG. 1may include a washer 112 to remove resin from material 124. As furtherdiscussed, as the water and/or the air may circulate around the cavityof the torus washer 212 in the defined pattern, the water and/or the airmay also chaotically or randomly move the material within the cavity ofthe torus washer 212 to dislodge or remove the resin from the material.As the water, the air, and the material circulate about the torus washer212, the water, air, and material may be pulled toward an opening at thebottom of the torus washer below the filter 258.

In one example, the processing tank 128 may be located approximate tothe torus washer 212 to receive the water, the air, and resin from thematerial from the torus washer 212. In another example, the torus washer212 may rest on top of the processing tank 128 with fasteners 262 thatmay extend from the bottom of the torus washer 212 to align the openingat the bottom of the torus washer 212 with an opening at the top of thesecond filter 126. In one example, the torus washer 212 and the secondfilter 126 may interlock or interconnect. In another example, the toruswasher 212 may freely sit on top of the processing tank 128 with theopening at the bottom of the torus washer 212 being aligned with theopening at the top of the second filter 126 when the fasteners 262 ofthe torus washer 212 are inserted into the top of the processing tank128.

When the torus washer 212 is connected or aligned with the second filter126, the water, the air, and the resin, may flow out of the opening atthe bottom of the torus washer 212 and into the second filter 126. Asthe water, the air, and the resin flow through the second filter 126,the resin may be caught or trapped by the second filter 126 while thewater and/or the air pass through the second filter 126 to be stored inthe processing tank 128. In one embodiment, the second filter 126 mayinclude multiple sub-filters that may catch or trap different portionsof the resin with different particulate sizes by having different meshsizes or mesh numbers for the sub-filters. In one embodiment, thesub-filters may be attached to a basket or tower structure 263 where thesub-filters are vertically stacked at defined distances along the basketor tower structure 263 and connected to the basket or tower structure263 along the perimeter of the sub-filters and the basket or towerstructure 263. The basket or tower structure 263 may be connected to theprocessing tank 128 and the basket or tower structure 263 may hangdirectly below a bottom opening of the torus washer 212, such as at abottom center of the torus washer 212. In another embodiment, the basketor tower structure 263 may be stiff and light material (such as flexiblemetal or plastic) and the sub-filters may be a flexible material (suchas perforated metal or nylon material). In another embodiment, thesub-filters may be fastened to the basket or tower structure 263 with afastener (such as a latch, a clasp, and so forth).

For example, the filter 258 may include a filter to capture anymaterials larger than 177 microns and keep that material within thetorus washer 212. In this example, the sub-filters may include a firstsub-filter 264 a may catch resin particulates with a first size (such asranging between 176 microns to 145 microns) by having a first mesh sizeor a mesh number to catch the resin particulates with the first size, asecond sub-filter 264 b to catch resin particulates with a second size(such as ranging between 144 microns to 90 microns) by having a secondmesh size or a mesh number to catch the resin particulates with thesecond size, and a third sub-filter 264 c to catch resin particulateswith a third size (such as ranging between 89 microns to 45 microns) byhaving a third mesh size or a mesh number to catch the resinparticulates with the third size. In another example, the towerstructure 263 may include a fourth sub-filter to catch resinparticulates with a second size (such as ranging between 44 microns to25 microns) by having a fourth mesh size or a mesh number to catch theresin particulates with the fourth size. The number of sub-filters, themesh sizes, and particulate sizes is not intended to be limiting and mayvary.

The sub-filters 264 a-264 c may be configured to catch the differentparticulate sizes in order to separate different grades of theparticulates. For example, the particulates caught by the firstsub-filter 264 a may be the lowest grade of particulates, theparticulates caught by the second sub-filter 264 b may be a medium gradeof particulates, and the particulates caught by the first sub-filter 264a may be the highest grade of particulates. For example, recreationalcannabis stores may sell 3 star cannabis, 4 star cannabis, and 5 starcannabis, where the 3 star cannabis may include resin that may beapproximately 176 microns to 125 microns in size, the 4 star cannabisinclude resin that may be approximately 124 microns to 45 microns insize, and 5 star cannabis may include resin that may be approximately 44microns to 25 microns in size. The lower star or lower grade cannabismay be ranked lower because the cannabis includes less resin and moreplant matter such that it includes less concentrated resin as comparedto higher ranked cannabis. In another example, 3 star cannabis may bethe lowest grade product sold in the recreational and medical marketsand the 5 star cannabis may be the highest grade cannabis sold.

In one embodiment, to remove the resin from the sub-filters 264 a-264 c,the resin may be attached to or lay on top of the screens of thesub-filters 264 a-264 c. When the sub-filters 264 a-264 c are removedfrom the basket or tower structure 263, the resin may be removed andthen used or stored for later use. In one example, once the resin hasbeen removed from the sub-filters 264 a-264 c, the resin may be frozenfor later separation, drying, and packaging. In another example, oncethe resin has been removed from the sub-filters 264 a-264 c, the resinmay be prepared for drying and packaging.

The number of sub-filters and the mesh size or mesh number of eachsub-filter may vary based on the degree that a user may desire toseparate resin particulates of different sizes. For example, the secondfilter 126 may include a single sub-filter when the second filter 126 isconfigured not to separate out the different resin particulate sizes orthe second filter 126 may include 10 sub-filters when the second filter126 is configured to separate out the different resin particulate sizedto a high level of granularity.

As discussed above, the torus washer 212 may be enclosed by a housing260. In one embodiment, the housing 260 may include handles 260 a and260 b to enable a user to more easily pick up the torus washer 212. Thehandles 260 a and 260 b may be located on opposite sides of the housing260.

FIG. 3A illustrates a top perspective view of a toroidal washer 312 witha donut shape, according to an embodiment. Some of the features in FIG.3A are the same or similar to some of the features in FIGS. 1-2B asnoted by same reference numbers, unless expressly described otherwise.As discussed above, the resin removal system 100 in FIG. 1 may include awasher 112 to remove resin from the material 124. In one example, thewasher 112 in FIG. 1 may be the toroidal washer 312 in FIG. 3A. In oneembodiment, the toroidal washer 312 may receive water and/or air from asource 348. In one example, the source 348 may be the first conduit 106and/or the second conduit 108 in FIG. 1A.

In one embodiment, the toroidal washer 312 may receive the water and/orthe air from the source 348 via an opening or inlet 356 at a top of thetoroidal washer 312. In one example, the inlet 356 may be located at thetop center of the toroidal washer 312. In another example, the source348 may be a conduit fastened and sealed to the top of the toroidalwasher 312 so that pressurized water and/or air may be sprayed into acavity of the toroidal washer 312. In another example, the source 348may be a conduit located above the top opening of the toroidal washer312 where the water and/or the air may naturally flow into the topopening via gravity pulling the water down into the top opening. Inanother example, the toroidal washer 312 may have inlets that are thesame or similar to the inlets 256 a-256 d (in FIG. 2A) integrated intothe sides of the toroidal washer 312.

The toroidal washer 312 may include a filter or screen 358 atapproximately the center of the toroidal washer 312. In one example, thefilter 358 may be a barrel-shaped metal screen at the center of thetoroidal washer 312 that may extend 5-8 inches into the interior of thetoroidal washer 312 and may sit flush with a bottom of the toroidalwasher 312. The filter 358 may be fastened to the bottom of the toroidalwasher 312 or may be attached to a housing of the toroidal washer 312with a locking mechanism, such as a twist and lock mechanism.

In one embodiment, as the toroidal washer 312 receives the water and/orthe air from the inlet 356, the water and/or the air may circulatearound a cavity of the toroidal washer 312 in a defined pattern, such asa spherical pattern or a toroidal pattern. As the water and/or the aircirculates around the cavity in the defined pattern, the water and/orthe air may also chaotically or randomly move the material within thecavity of the toroidal washer 312. The defined pattern of the waterand/or the air along with the chaotic or random movement of the materialmay dislodge or remove the resin from the material 124. As the water,the air, and the material circulate about the toroidal washer 312, thewater, air, and material may be pulled toward an opening at the bottomof the torus washer below the filter 358. As the water and/or the airexit through the opening, the resin that has been removed from thematerial may exit with the water and/or the air as the filter 358restricts the material from exiting through the opening.

FIG. 3B illustrates a side exposed view of the toroidal washer 312 andthe second filter 126, according to an embodiment. Some of the featuresin FIG. 3B are the same or similar to some of the features in FIGS. 1-3Aas noted by same reference numbers, unless expressly describedotherwise. As discussed above, the resin removal system 100 in FIG. 1may include a washer 112 to remove resin from material 124. As furtherdiscussed, as the water and/or the air may circulate around the cavityof the toroidal washer 312 in the spherical or toroidal pattern, thewater and/or the air may also chaotically or randomly move the materialwithin the cavity of the toroidal washer 312 to dislodge or remove theresin from the material. As the water, the air, and the materialcirculate about the toroidal washer 312, the water, air, and materialmay be pulled toward an opening at the bottom of the toroidal washer 312below the filter 358.

In one example, the processing tank 128 may be located approximate tothe toroidal washer 312 to receive the water, the air, and resin fromthe material from the toroidal washer 312. In another example, thetoroidal washer 312 may rest on top of the processing tank 128 withfasteners 362 that may extend from the bottom of the toroidal washer 312to align the opening at the bottom of the toroidal washer 312 with anopening at the top of the second filter 126. In one example, thetoroidal washer 312 and the second filter 126 may interlock orinterconnect. In another example, the toroidal washer 312 may freely siton top of the processing tank 128 with the opening at the bottom of thetoroidal washer 312 being aligned with the opening at the top of thesecond filter 126 when the fasteners 362 of the toroidal washer 312 areinserted into the top of the processing tank 128.

When the toroidal washer 312 is connected or aligned with the secondfilter 126, the water, the air, and the resin may flow out of theopening at the bottom of the toroidal washer 312 and into the secondfilter 126. As the water, the air, and the resin flow through the secondfilter 126, the resin may be caught or trapped by the second filter 126while the water and/or the air pass through the second filter 126 to bestored in the processing tank 128. As discussed above, the second filter126 may include multiple sub-filters 264 a-264 c that may catch or trapdifferent portions of the resin with different particulate sizes byhaving different mesh sizes or mesh numbers for the sub-filters.

The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct embodiments withindependent utility. While these embodiments have been disclosed in aparticular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustratedabove are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerousvariations are possible. The subject matter of the embodiments includesthe novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of thevarious elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed aboveand inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such embodiments.Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “afirst” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims isto be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neitherrequiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed tocombinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed embodiments that arebelieved to be novel and non-obvious. Embodiments embodied in othercombinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elementsand/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims orpresentation of new claims in the present application or in a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed tothe same embodiment or a different embodiment and whether they aredifferent, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims,are to be considered within the subject matter of the embodimentsdescribed herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a water sourcecoupled to a washer, wherein the water source comprises a firstcontainer to store water; an air source coupled to the washer, whereinthe air source comprises: a second container to store cold material; anda coil at least partially enclosed by the second container, wherein: thecoil includes a first end to intake air into the coil; and the coldmaterial cools the coil; the washer configured to receive the water fromthe water source and the air from the air source into an interior cavityof the washer via an inlet, the washer including a first filter locatedwithin the interior cavity, wherein: the interior cavity is configuredto store a material; the interior cavity is configured to direct a flowof the water and the air in a defined pattern to remove a resin from thematerial; and the washer comprises an opening covered by the firstfilter, wherein the first filter is configured to allow the water, theair, and the resin to exit the opening while restricting the materialfrom exiting the opening; a first tank approximate the opening of thewasher, the first tank including a tower structure located within theinterior cavity of the first tank, wherein: the first tank is configuredto receive the water, the air, and the resin via a first opening in thefirst tank as the water, the air, and the resin exiting the opening ofthe washer; and the tower structure comprises a first sub-filter to trapat least a first portion of the resin as the water, the air, and theresin enter the first tank via the first opening in the first tank; asecond filter coupled to a second opening of the first tank, wherein thesecond filter is configured to clean the water; and a second tankcoupled to the second filter, wherein the second tank is configured tostore the water cleaned by the second filter.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the second tank is coupled to the water source to provide thewater to the water source.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the watersource, the washer, the first tank, and the second tank form a closedwater system to recycle the water to remove the resin from the material.4. The system of claim 1, wherein the water source is coupled to thewasher by a first conduit and the air source is coupled to the washer bya second conduit.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the water source iscoupled to the washer by a first conduit and the air source is coupledto the first conduit by a second conduit.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the second conduit is coupled to the first conduit by a venturivalve such that the flow of the water through the first conduit createsa natural pump to suck the air from the air source into the firstconduit and mix the air with the water.
 7. The system of claim 5,further comprising a sprayer coupled to the first conduit, wherein: thesprayer is configured to receive at least a portion of the water fromthe first conduit; and the sprayer is configured to spray the water toclean at least a portion of the system.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the tower structure comprises a second sub-filter, wherein thefirst sub-filter is configured to trap a first portion of the resin andthe second sub-filter is configured to trap a second portion of theresin, wherein the first portion of the resin comprises first resinparticulates that are a first size and the second portion of the resincomprises second resin particulates that are a second size.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the first resin particulates are a firstgrade of resin material and the second resin particulates are a secondgrade of resin material.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interiorcavity of the washer is a torus shape to direct the flow of the air andthe water in a centrifugal pattern.
 11. The system of claim 1, whereinthe interior cavity of the washer is a toroidal shape to direct the flowof the air and the water in a toroidal pattern.
 12. The system of claim1, wherein the coil cools the air below a threshold temperature.
 13. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the coil heats the air above a thresholdtemperature.
 14. An apparatus, comprising: a water source coupled to awasher, wherein the water source comprises a first container to storewater; an air source coupled to the washer, wherein the air sourcecomprises: a second container to store cold material; and a coil atleast partially enclosed by the second container, wherein: the coilincludes a first end to intake air into the coil; and the cold materialcools the air within the coil; and the washer is configured to receivethe water from the water source and the air from the air source into aninterior cavity of the washer via an inlet, the washer including a firstfilter located within the interior cavity, wherein: the interior cavityis configured to store a material; the interior cavity is configured todirect a flow of the water and the air in a defined pattern to remove aresin from the material; and the washer comprises an opening covered bythe first filter, wherein the first filter is configured to allow thewater, the air, and the resin to exit the opening while restricting thematerial from exiting the opening.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14,further comprising: a first tank approximate the opening of the washer,the first tank including a tower structure located within the interiorcavity of the first tank, wherein: the first tank is configured toreceive the water, the air, and the resin via a first opening in thefirst tank as the water, the air, and the resin exit the opening of thewasher; and the tower structure comprises a first sub-filter to trap atleast a first portion of the resin as the water, the air, and the resinenter the first tank via the first opening in the first tank.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the interior cavity of the washer is atorus shape or a toroidal shape to direct the flow of the air and thewater in a centrifugal pattern or a toroidal pattern.
 17. A device,comprising: a washer configured to receive water from a water source andair from an air source into an interior cavity of the washer via aninlet, the washer including a first filter located within the interiorcavity, wherein: the interior cavity is configured to store a material;the interior cavity is configured to direct a flow of the water and theair in a defined pattern to remove a resin from the material; and thewasher comprises an opening covered by the first filter, wherein thefirst filter is configured to allow the water, the air, and the resin toexit the opening while restricting the material from exiting theopening; and a first tank approximate the opening of the washer, thefirst tank including a tower structure located within the interiorcavity of the first tank, wherein: the first tank is configured toreceive the water, the air, and the resin via a first opening in thefirst tank as the water, the air, and the resin exit the opening of thewasher; and the tower structure comprises a first sub-filter to trap atleast a first portion of the resin as the water, the air, and the resinenter the first tank via the first opening in the first tank.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17, further comprising the water source being coupled tothe washer, the water source comprising a container to store water. 19.The device of claim 17, further comprising the air source being coupledto the washer, the air source comprising a coil that includes a firstend to intake air into the coil, wherein the coil is configured toincrease or decrease a temperature of the air to a defined temperature.20. The device of claim 17, wherein: the interior cavity of the washeris a torus shape or a toroidal shape to direct the flow of the air andthe water in a centrifugal pattern or a toroidal pattern; and thecentrifugal pattern or toroidal pattern generates a chaotic movement inthe washer to remove the resin from the material.